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ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS 
BY GILBERT MURRAY 




PORTLAND MAINE 

THOMAS BIRD MOSHER 

MDCCCCXIII 



71? k^ 



COPYRIGHT 

THOMAS B MOSHER 

1913 



TRANSFERRED FROM 
COPYRIGHT OFFIOC 

MAY 5 I9J4 



PREFATORY LETTER 



MY DEAR ARCHER, 

The germ of this play sprang into exist- 
ence on a certain April day in 1896 which you 
and I spent chiefly in dragging our reluctant 
bicycles up the great hills that surround Riveaulx 
Abbey, and discussing, so far as the blinding 
raift allowed us, the auestions whether all sincere 
comedies are of necessity cynical, and how often 
we had had tea since the morning, and how far 
it would be possible to treat a historical subject 
loyally and unconventionally on a modern stage. 
Then we struck (as, I fear, is too often the fate 
of those who converse with me) on the subject of 
the lost plays of the Greek tragedians. We 
talked of the extraordinary variety of plot that 
the Greek dramatist found in his historical tra- 
dition, the force, the fire, the depth and richness 
of character-play. We thought of the marvellous 
dramatic possibilities of an age in which actual 
and living heroes and sages were to be seen 
moving against a background of primitive super- 
stition and blank savagery ; in which the soul 
of man walked more free from trappings than 
seems ever to have been permitted to it since. 
But I must stop ; I see that I am approaching 



PREFATORY LETTER 



the common pitfall of playwrights who venture 
upon prefaces, and am beginning to prove how 
good my play ought to be / 

What I want to remind you of is this : that 
we agreed that a simple historical play, with 
as little convention as possible, placed in the 
Greek Heroic Age, a?id dealing with one of the 
ordinary heroic stories, ought to be, well, an 
interesting experi?nent. Beyond this point, I 
know, we began to differ. You wanted verse 
and the Greece of the English poets. I wanted, 
above all things, a nearer approach to my con- 
ception of the real Greece, the Greece of history 
and even — dare I say it ? — of anthropology ! 
I recognise your full right to disapprove of every 
word and every sentiment of this play from the 
first to the last, but I hope you will not grudge 
me the pleasure of associating your name with 
at least the inception of the experiment, and 
thanking you at the same time for the many 
gifts of friendly e?icouragement and stimulating 
objurgation which you have bestowed upon 
Yours sincerely, 

GILBERT MURRA Y 
January igoo. 



ANDROMACHE 



DRAMATIS PERSONS 

PYRRHUS . . Son of Achilles ; King of 

Phthia. 

Andromache . . Once wife of Hector, Prince 

of Troy ; now slave to 
Pyrrhns. 

Hermione . . Daughter of Helen, Queen 

of Sparta ; wife to Pyr- 
rhus. 

MOLOSSUS . . . Child of Pyrrhns and 

Andromache. 

Alcimedon or Alcimus An old Captain of Achilles' 1 
Myrmidons. 

Orestes .... Son of Agamemnon, A'ing 
of Mycencc ; now ban- 
ished for the slaying of 
his mother, Clytumncs- 
tra. 

Pylades .... A Prince of Phocis, friend 
to Orestes. 

A Priest of Thetis 

Two Maids of Hermione 

Certain Maidens, Myrmidons, Men-at-Arms. 

The Action takes place in Phthia, on the Southern 
borders of Thessaly, about fifteen years after the Fall of 
Troy. 



The characters in this play must not be dressed like 
ornamental Greeks of the classical period. They are 
pre-classical and must suggest a mode of life that is 
hard, wild, poor, and above all savage. Hermione, and 
to a less degree her Maids, may show some richness of 
dress. Orestes, in spite of his gold, must be a dark 
travel-stained and haggard figure ; a little older than 
Pyrrhus, who is ruddy and fair -haired, like a common- 
place Viking. 



ANDROMACHE 



THE FIRST ACT 



Scene : The coast of Phthia. Rocks with the 
sea visible behind them. One of the rocks 
is a shri?ie, having niches cut in it for 
receiving offerings. At the back is the Altar 
of Thetis, shrouded in trees ; to the left, a 
well. A path to the left leads to Pyrrhus' 
castle ; another, far back to the right, leads 
to the house of the Priest. // is the morn- 
ing twilight, with a faint glimmer of dawn. 

At the foot of the rock Orestes is seated in 
meditation; he carries two spears, and 
wears the garb of a traveller. An Armed 
Man is moving off the stage at the back, 
as though going towards the sea ; he stops 
suddenly, listens, and hides behind a rock. 

Enter, coming up from the sea, Pylades, armed. 
The Man steps out. 

My lord Pylades. 

Where have you left him ? 

Yonder, by the shrine. He bade me go 
back to the ship. 



ANDROMACHE 



{Crossing to Orestes.] Is it too late to turn 
your purpose ? 

[As though half roused from his reverie.'] I 
seek only to see if she is indeed so passing 
beautiful. She was ; I am sure she was, 
until [He pauses. 

Let me go first and spy out a way for you. 

[With sudden resentment.] You think I am 
still mad ! 

Nay, no more mad than I, but more quick 
to anger. It would be safer for me to go. 

You think I am still mad because I dared 
not say it! I • will say it here by the altar. 
[Doggedly.] I will see if she is still as she 
used to be before the day when ... I shed 
my mother's blood, and first saw 

Speak not Their name, brother. You did 
nought but the gods' plain bidding. You see 
them no more now that you are healed. 

' T was you that feared to name them, not I ! 

Nay, you fear nothing ; that is why I must 
fear for you. 

What is there to fear for me ? Most like I 
shall come back just as I am. 



ANDROMACHE 



pylades That is the one thing that cannot be ! 

[Musingly.] If she is changed as all the 

world else is changed since that time 

[Abruptly.] I care not for the woman. I will 

come back. If not 

[Smiles ambiguously. 

But why go alone, and why venture so much ? 
We two could lie hid in the thickets by the 
shrine yonder, and see her when the women 
come to pray at sunrise. And then 

[ With determination, i?iterrupting him.] I 
will go alone, and see her and speak with her 
alone ! Hinder me not, friend ! Leave no 
man to watch over me. Keep the ship well 
hidden, and have twoscore men ambushed 
above the cliff, to hold the path if need comes. 

There shall be fourscore ever ready to your 
call, night or day. 

[ Coming down from path at bach.] My chief, 
the dawn is drawing close. 

Ay, get you gone before any worshippers 
come. 

As you will, then. And Apollo be your 
guard ! 



ANDROMACHE 



[Exeunt Pylades and Armed Man. 
Orestes wraps his mantle round hi?n 
and sits in silence. 

Enter from the right, Priest of Thetis, with a 
bowl in his hands. He climbs a rock at the 
back and watches the sunrise. 

Not yet. Not quite yet. Ah, there it catches 
the crag-top: now the trees: — yes, there is 
the glint far off on the sea ! \He comes down 
towards the shrine and prays.] Hail, Thetis ! 
Accept this wine and honey I bring thee at 
first touch of dawn. Keep thy Priest in wealth 
and honour, even as I keep thy worship. And, 
as the sunlight drives the Things of dark- 
ness from thy waters [Seeing Orestes.] 

Averter of evil ! Who is this that has sat 
through the darkness under the Holy Rock ? 
Stranger, whence come you here ? 



From Acarnania. 
here? 



Have I sinned in resting 



No man of Phthia, for his life, would stay 
here in darkness ! Saw you not anything ? 

What should I see ? 

No changing manifold shapes, as of women 
or winged things ? 



ANDROMACHE 



[Harshly^ I saw nought but what I have 

seen on a thousand nights. Enough ! If I 

have offended any goddess I will make amends. 

[He begins to wring off a pendant from a 

gold chain that he wears, and moves 

towards the altar. 

Stay ! There is no blood upon your hands ? 

I have shed blood in my time. 

How long since ? Is the stain washed off ? 

Oh, I have been purified and purified ! 

Duly and fully — with hyssop and the blood 
of swine ? 

With better sacrifices than swine ! I am 
clean enough to make amends to your god- 
dess. [Coming across to the shrine.] Where 
shall I lay it ? For I may need her favour. 

[Holds out the gold pendant. 

[Surprised?^ Gold ! Stranger, it is well to 
give gold to Thetis, but 

Well, I give it to Thetis ! 

Scarce a man in Phthia has ever touched 
gold, save Pyrrhus himself and the servants 
of Hermione. Nor many, I should guess, in 
Acarnania. 



ANDROMACHE 



ORESTES 


A banished man must have his wealth in 




little compass. 


PRIEST 


A chain like that should buy an exile's 




return. 


ORESTES 


I care not to return. 


PRIEST 


Are the friends of the dead so bitter against 




you? 


ORESTES 


The friends of the dead are dead, and my 




friends are dead. I have none to fear ; but I 




have been wronged, my house taken from me, 




and my father's wealth, and the woman that 




was vowed me to wife. No more, old man ! 




I am an exile, and I live in happier lands than 




mine own. 


PRIEST 


Is it in Phthia you seek for a happy land ? 




. . . No matter ; affliction comes to the good 




as to the evil. 


ORESTES 


Why, what ails your city, if a stranger may 




know? 


PRIEST 


See you that shrine, and the footprint of 




Thetis in the rock? Once it was all covered 




with offerings ! 


ORESTES 


It is not so well loaded, nor yet so ill. Is 




there no worse than that? 



ANDROMACHE 



Worse? Barren fields and a barren queen, 
and hatred in the house of Achilles! 

Is it some sin the King has done? 

The King and a woman. 

[Starting.] Has that sin met its punishment ? 
Speak plainly, Priest. 

Long years ago, Pyrrhus brought back from 
Troy a slave woman to share his bed. 

[As though reassurea '.] Hector's wife, 
Andromache, men say. 

The wife of his father's bitterest enemy! 
Ay, and she was his enemy too, and loathed 
her life with Pyrrhus. 

They all struggle, these women captives. 
But what harm came of it ? 

She is a foe to the land and to Thetis ! 

But has he not cast her off? [With con- 
straint.'] Men say he has wedded a new Queen, 
the daughter of Helen. 

Oh, the Trojan has not dwelt in the King's 
house these ten years back. She begged him 
for a hut in the mountain, and he gave it her. 



ANDROMACHE 



ORESTES 


She begged to be sent away ! How was 




that? 


PRIEST 


Why should a woman wish to live in secret, 




and not be seen ? [Slight pause.'] There be 




wise women among the barbarians. 


ORESTES 


Wise in bad drugs and magic; I know no 




other wisdom in them. 


PRIEST 


You have said it ! There is a prophet here 




who knows of counter-charms — I gave him 




three ewes for this that I wear — [showing a 




charm made of wolves' teeth] — else I durst not 




face her! 


ORESTES 


Whom has she chiefly hurt? 


PRIEST 


Men say she has waked the dead Hector to 




come to her across the seas! . . . But for the 




King, we should have judged her long ago. 


ORESTES 


Does the new Queen hate her? 


PRIEST 


Has she not blighted the womb of the 




Queen? There is no heir to Achilles in 




Achilles' land ! 


ORESTES 


And does Pyrrhus sit still while his Queen 




is thus wronged ? 



ANDROMACHE 



i3 



Cannot a witch blind the eyes ? He can see 
nothing, and will hearken to nothing. Even 
now he has taken the Trojan woman's bastard 
with him. 

Is Pyrrhus away from the land? Where? 

He has gone hunting in the hills yonder 
and down to the fields of the Naprcans. 

When should he return ? 

To-day, it may be — it is the fifth day of the 
hunt; or perchance the game may keep him 
some time yet. {Enter Alcimedon, l., an old 
man with spears but no armour; he carries a 
bu?ich of Violets for Thetis?^ The witch woman 
is mad lest any hurt come to the boy ! 

Health to you, Priest, and discretion to your 
tongue! 

Health I accept, Alcimedon, — discretion to 
them that need it! 

[To the Priest.] Why, what should bring 
hurt to the lad ? 

[Carelessly, passing on.] Jealousy stranger. 
Priests and barren women ! 

[He passes on to the altar, and then to the 
rock, where he puts his violets. 



14 



ANDROMACHE 



PRIEST 
ORESTES 



ALCIMEDON 



ALCIMEDON 



ALCIMEDON 



Jealousy ! 

[Involuntarily.] Hermione would never plot 
against the boy ! 

[He makes an angry movement after 

ALCIMEDON. 

What jealousy? What need to be jealous 
of him ? He is no true heir. We have a King, 
and we have a Queen, both of the blood of 
Zeus, both our true rulers, but heir there is 
none. 

[Seeing and handling the gold link.] Ye 
golden gods, have the sons of Pactolus come 
to Phthia ? 

[In sudden anger.] The curse of the crawl- 
ing lichen on the man who moves that gold ! 

On your own head! [Throws gold quickly 
down.] Who are you, stranger, to curse one 
that has done you no wrong ? 

I check the wrong before it is done. And 
I tell not my name save to my host after I 
have eaten and slept. 

If you come to teach your manners to the 
Myrmidons, by Thetis ! you shall learn theirs 
first. Is the stranger yours, O Priest ? 



ANDROMACHE 



15 



ALCIMEDON 



ALCIMEDON 



ALCIMEDON 



I have broken no man's bread nor touched 
his hand. [Defiantly. "\ What seek you more ? 

Why is he so bold ? Has he sanctuary with 
Thetis ? 

[Lifting his two spears.] This is my sanctu- 
ary. And there is more gold for the man that 
will break through it. 

Stay! Slay not the stranger so fast, 
Alcimedon. Reason with him. He will give 
up the chain, and we will let him go in peace. 

Go in peace, when he has lifted his spear 
against Alcimedon ! How shall I look my 
grandchildren in the face ? By Thetis ! I will 
wash the chain with his blood ! 

Beware ; he has spears! It is man to man. 

[Noise of footsteps. Orestes finis his back 
towards a rock, so that neither he nor 
Alcimedon sees Andromache, the 
Maid, and two other damsels, who enter 
with pitchers on their heads. 

[ With his eye on Orestes.] Ha ! who comes 
there? [Calling to the new corners without look- 
ing at them.] A stranger in arms, and with 
gold! Ho! Myrmidons! 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIMEDON 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



Shame on you, Alcimedon, robber of 
strangers ! 

Is it you? [ Yielding reluctantly?] Nay, he is 
no man's guest; it is lawful to slay him. 

He is mine. [To Orestes.] Stranger, give 
me your right hand. [To Alcimedon.] He is 
my guest. 

[Still stormy and excited?] Shall I take a 
woman's hand for fear of this old loon ? My 
spear-blade is dry and has not drunk. 

Stranger, you are alone ; a wise man chooses 
peace, and not war. 

Alone ? As a wolf among sheep is alone. 
When he slays first the dog — [pointing spear 
at Alcimedon] — and bleeds the sheep as he 
will! 

And who will be the better when he has bled 
them ? Nay, old friend — [to Alcimedon, who 
wants to break in; then to Orestes again] — 
though you slay us all, you have but lost the 
food and shelter we had given you ; and the 
shedder of blood escapes not the Dread 
Watchers. 

[ Who had been cooling, starts and threatens 
her.] What know you of the Dread Watchers ? 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIMEDON 



ANDROMACHE 
ALCIMEDON 



ORESTES 
ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



And there is little glory in the slaying of a 
woman, and little gain. 

[ Wildly.'] What woman ? Who are you that 
taunt me ? Priest, is this your witch ? 

[Angrily.] She is no witch ! You lie, both 
stranger and priest ! 

I am a bondwoman of the King. 

Andromache, once wife of Hector, Prince 
of Troy. 

And am I to be the guest of a bondwoman ? 

There are others of free estate who will take 
you in. I only sought to save men's lives. 

What worth are men's lives? I will be 
guest to none but the King. 

One of these will guide you, when you will, 
to Pyrrhus' castle. 

[Relaxing suddenly.] Oh, let me be. 

[He sits down on a rock, and buries his face 
in his hands. 

[To Alcimedon.] The man is very weary 
and sore at heart, Alcimedon. 

It may be he is mad. It is well we hurt 
him not. 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIMEDON 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIMEDON 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIMEDON 



ALCIMEDON 



Banishment may make a man well-nigh mad. 
I remember the year of my own manslaying. 

Perchance he has been long alone in the 
forests. Take him and give him food and 
drink. 

The priest can take him. I want no more 
of the man. 

[Wearily.'] Nay, touch me not. Leave me 
awhile. 

[To the others^] It is well. Make your 
prayers. 

[Approaching the altar, and praying zvith 
upstretched hands.] Greeting to thee and joy, 
Thetis, mother of all Phthia. Give us peace 
in this land ; and grant that my son Molossus 
return safe, and grow to give joy to thee and 
all this house! 

[In the same way.] Joy to thee, Thetis! 
Accept my offerings, and grant that my arms 
keep strong, and that I find the man whose 
swine have trampled my barley field. 

It will be a long day before Thetis grants 
you that, old man. 

[Grumbling.] If I only knew of any one that 
knew! 



ANDROMACHE 



*9 



PRIEST 


[To First Maid.] Have you a prayer to 




make? 


MAID 


[Taking- offeri?igs from other Maids to add to 




her own.] Hail, Thetis ! and may joy be ever 




with thee ! Accept these offerings from the 




bondmaidens Aithra, and Pholoe, and Deian- 




assa; and grant all good things to them and 




theirs. [A pause. 


ALCIMEDON 


The jade ! She is praying in silence ! Ho, 




stop her, Priest! [The others giggle. 


MAID 


'T is as good as a witch's prayer, at the 




worst ! 


ALCIMEDON 


[Taking hold of her and threate?iing her with 




the shaft of his spear.'] Say it aloud, now! 




Say what it was! 


MAID 


I won't! I won't! Let me be. It was no 




harm. 


ANDROMACHE 


Let her be. 


ALCIMEDON 


Swear it was nothing touching me, nor my 




crops, nor those swine ! 


MAID 


By Thetis! I think not of you, nor your 




crops nor your swine ! 


ORESTES 


[Recovering from his reverie.] Well, lead me 




in. I will be the guest of any that will take 




me. 



ANDROMACH E 



ORESTES 



AL< IMEDON 



ANDROMACHE 



You have given an offering, stranger; you 
may pray if you will. 

I — to Thetis! No! Yet perhaps 

[Going up to altar."] Hail, Thetis 1 I have 
given thee an offering of many oxen's price, 
and many more will I give if thou hinder me 
not of my desires. 

A vile prayer, a very dangerous prayer! He 
might as well hive prayed silently. I will not 
take the man ; the Priest may take him. 
\_Thc Priest goes towards Ori 

[Looking about and scantling the faces. ~\ I will 
be this bondwoman's guest. 

So be it, stranger. [The Priest moves 
anxiously towards Orestes.] And perchance 
the Priest will give you shelter till my work is 
done. 

Ay, come with me. When the King returns, 
it were meeter that he should take you. [Aside 
to Orestes.] Beware, stranger ! It is the 
Phrygian woman. 

[Apart to Priest.] She is over-wise, 
methinks; but not evil. I fear her not. [Com- 
ing back as though on impulse.'] I give you my 
hand, wife of Hector! 



1NDROMACH E 



I'kiKsr 









Al« IMI DOW 



ALCIM 



[ Taking his k 
Till the Kin^ retui 

.'*</ the -vomni draw 

ill her pail 

he fill min 

it is pell, fa 

i i , 

nan. [<3 

this wine 
ami the blood of .m | th.it 

I 

ch [.v 

If /«r//j with | «ft> 
i 

[Flings out the 'and. 

Queen, you have flung out the blood upon 
mndl 



ANDROMACHE 



hkkmiom What would my sacrifice profit, with that 

woman's eyes upon me? [To Andromache.] 
you back to the castle! Is the water not 
drawn yet? 

hi: . ( ) ( Hieen! 

ALCIMBDON You arc over-proud, my Queen, over-proud. 

hi KMhiM May a Queen in Phthia not give commands 

to her own slaves ? 

[At : Holy Aphrodite ! some one 

ut gold upon the shrine ! 

' T was | Btranger that the Priest has taken 
in. Have a care : the dog laid a curse on any 
who should move it. 

A stranger! He comes from the South, 
then ; from Athens, or Argos, or Mycenae 

No, Queen, he is only an Acarnanian. But 
belike he has journeyed to the South. 

That is no Acarnanian gold! [Taking it 
///.] See you the sea-beast wrought on it, with 
many feet ? [To Maid. 

Yes, but the curse, Queen 

[Not heeding her.] It brings my home back 
to me. In Lacedaimon we all wore chains of 
gold about our necks. 



A NDROMACH E 






\I Ml> 









M.CIM 



IION1 



MOI i 



the man bud a curse upon 

and that 



n in tin- their 

like this. 

\ i 1 a plain 1 

i 

Will 

/ ilr.iw water I 

i the 

-nan. 

Ho : Mother, " 

tad the K; 
huntsmen. They arc coming op the path. 



24 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIM 



INDROMA4 III. 



I IK 



MOLO 



MO I J ' 



HERMIONE 
ANDROMACHE 



Already \ 

[To Andromache, who has stopped.] Why 

m wait? Have I not bidden you back to 
the castle ? And when the hall is swept, go to 
your own house. Come not up to trouble the 
King till that web is finished. 

{Turning again and moving away ^\ I go, 
en. 

[Without.'] IIo, wife of Hector, mother of 
MoloSSUSl Slay, and look at him. 

///./ PYRRHUS enter, with some spear 
men; Pvrrhus has his arm on the neck of 
M >L08SU& 

[Running forward.] Mother, look ! I have 
slain a man ! 

Hi has slain his first man. 

[MOLOSSUS holds up his hands, the pai/ns 
of which one smeared with blood. 

See, mother; they have smeared me with 
his blood ! 

Keep away from the altar, with foul hands ! 

[7'o Pyrrhus, with reproach, while she em- 
-.] You said you would take 
him to no battles, only to hunting. 



A \ I I 












{Cheeril\ \ bo made 

nothing but bunting. 

We had dri the 

mountains am: 

with i 

I the 

tod think; 

. tod 

. 
g ! — ami there he l 

his d 

i pipe he was plait i is n't 

finished, bul 

5, my 
. n and cut off the cattle : 

ami I have given them I M isus for his 
own herd 



26 



A X I) R () M ACHE 









HERMIONl 









[ONE 



UK KM 



ANDROMACHE 



And father put the blood on my hands 
himself. 

I will do more for you than that, my 
firstborn. 

[ IIVi<> has kept back, by the altar.] Take Dp 
your pitcher, and begooe, woman ! 

{Turning upon 1 1 krm i< >\ i\] Now, by Peleus, 

daughter of Helen, what would you? 

That when my slave is «;one you may give 

me greeting. 

I give you greeting. But I praise not your 
greeting to me. 

If I send my women to draw water at sun- 
rise, shall the water not be hack when the 
shadows are thus ? 

There be other women meeter to draw water 
than Hector's wife. I tell you there is no man 
on this earth I should so joy to have slain as 
I lector. 

If he had witchwork to help him, he may 
have been a deadly fighter. 

[To Pvrkhus, who has laid his hand on her 
shoulder.] Nay, master, the hall must be made 
ready. 



AND EtOM ACHE 












iMACMK 



; u in 



i 



I Mill 



.1. take our boy, and be with him at the 
when I < < think of a boon 

. ihaU not stint 

I know 'ord. 

Ask 

with 

make 

: ID hf 
I will 

the 
Na> 

Not -:f'u//v.] Then per 

i ban* the herd- 

bould 

• IS It 

[ Putting hn 

. . my lord ! And if there is no 
merit, they will watch day and night to 
glaj him. 



28 



AN I) ROM A (MI E 



MOLOSSUS 

[A( m 
PYRRHUS 

ANDR< I 



ANDRi • 



HERMIONE 



MOLOSSUS 
PYRRHUS 



Mother, I fear them not ! 

They will raid US again 

I can do them twice and four times the hur 
they can do me. 

They cannot hurt us in our castle, but the; 
can burn the villages in the plain ami mak< 
b and famine. 

Oh, Mother, why should I make atonemen 
for my first man ? 

It was only a boy, too. I cannot ask for 
giveness for one boy I 



It will cost little. 
Sidon work 



I have three carpets o 



And the oxen! 1 have ^iven them to the j 
lad ; and one is already eaten. . . . Well , 
well, it is for the lad to say if he-will give bar! | 
his oxen and ask for pardon. 

Shall my chests be made empty because I 
your slave's child is afraid? 

I am not afraid. I will never atone! 

[To Hermione.] Peace, O Queen! [Til 

Andromachk.] Go! If Molossus wills, he carl 

make his atonement. On to the castle, men ! I 

[Exeunt spearmen) 



A N I - 






\Turmng ,is she go ft off.] i th, my 

ur hall would itC if 

un. 

u 

[St 

num's 

I. Wh.it 
to UK ■ /:cr broke b 

them, ith of the 

You ire ni.nl. woman, had mur- 

dered his mother, and the Spirits without N 
haunted him day and night 

My father knew that when be betrothed 
I le could be purified 



3° 



A N I ) R ( ) M A CHE 



HKRMl 



PYRRHUS 



HERM1 



r\ RRHUS 
HERMION i 



l'Vki i 

II IK N' I 



HERMIONE 



\Scomfully^\ Purified? For slaying his 
mother? 

And you, you dared not enter the land 
while Agamemnon's son was there; you wailed 
till 

'T was your father cozened Orestes away. 
How should I fear Agamemnon's son? Am 
1 not the son of Achilles? 

And was Achilles a better man than Aga- 
memnon ? 

All the world knows he was. 

Then why did all the world choose Agq 
memnon to be the ir king? 

Bah ! Very Eeeble men may be kings. 

They may, in Phthia; and beggarly men 
and savage, and witch-ridden, and makers o 
atonement, and stealers of wives! 

By Peleus ! if I stole you, you were willing 
T is yourself you mark with a dog's name 
Helen's daughter! 

God be witness, willing I never was ! Thougl 
I dreamed not then that I should come to 
beggared land and the house of a master wh 
hated me ! 



. I • i I E 



{/'/trigs herselj hidden 

ff the stage by the trees. 

■ 






IK.-.] H 

\Vh> • 

a m.ui. 
1 I 

I will 
D 

and the Waters ■• 

"tent at the 

It is well, strangi r. r id in 

. and if i to exile foi manslay- 

bag may well be worth the bre.nl be 



32 



ANDROMACHE 



ORESTES 



HERMIONE 



ORESTES 



HERMIONE 



Others know if I am skilled in war. I know 
only that my life is little worth to me, and I 
care not much to save it. 

A good word, Sir Guest, and worthy of the 
roof of Achilles. We give you greeting, my 
Queen and I. [Shakes his hand, and looks 
round for Hermione.] Daughter of Helen, _. 
have you not seen our guest? 

\_In a stattled tone.'] Seen him ? What do 
you mean, my lord? 

Nay, though methinks I have heard the 
Queen's praises till it is almost as though I 
knew her. For the women of the South speak 
daily of Helen's daughter, and the bards and 
kings' sons will never forget her. 

[ Mastering her agitation with difficulty^ You 
know the land of Pelops, stranger? It is a 
fair land. 

Once it was far the fairest upon earth. But 
now its pride is brought down, and that which 
made it beautiful is departed. 

[Be looks steadily at her. 

Ay, they have had their troubles in the 
South. Howbeit, with us you may stay in ! 
peace as long as your pleasure is. Daughter 



ANDROMACHE 



33 



of Helen, give your hand to our guest, and 
guide him to the castle. 

[Moving her hand forward, then drawing 
back.'] Let another guide him. I have yet a 
prayer unspoken, and my offering is poured. 

[Displeased.] Be not vexed, stranger. Who 
can tell the prayers of a childless woman, save 
that they change and are very many? Come 
with me, and to-morrow we will ask your name 
<^nd race. 

[Exeunt Pyrrhus and Orestes, l. The 
Priest looks to the niches in the rock to 
see the offerings. Hermione falls on 
her knees at the altar, and prays silently. 



end of the first act 



ANDROMACHE 



35 



ANDROMACHE 



V ANDROMACHE 



MOLOSSUS 



THE SECOND ACT 

Scene : The Hall of Pyrrhus' Castle, a rude 
stone building, with spears, swords, and 
armour hanging on the ivalls. A dootivay 
in the back wall leads to the courtyard. At 
the extreme right is a fire burning ; near it 
are two high seats for the King and Queen. 

On a bench near the door are Andromache 
and Molossus seated; on the floor near 
them is a small pile of carpets and tapestries, 
and a bowl with some metal omame/its 
and small weapons in it. 

But when you saw him fall, and saw the pain 
in his face, did it give you no grief? 

A little, it may be. Not more than when I 
struck my first deer. A child might cry over 
the ox they are flaying now in the yard. 

And a grown man, too, if it availed any- 
thing. 

Mother, you are only a woman, and I am 
getting to be a man ; I must grow past all that 
and throw it behind me. 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



MOLOSSUS 
ANDROMACHE 



MOLOSSUS 
ANDROMACHE 



Enter Orestes unnoticed: he stands 171 the 
doorway, lea?iing against a pillar. 

May your eyes never see half the pain mine 
have seen ! I grew past feeling for it, too, 
long, long ago. I saw men writhe and bite 
the dust, without caring for them or counting 
them. They were so many that they were all 
confused, and the noise of their anguish was 
like the crying of cranes far off ; there was no 
one voice in it, and no meaning. And then, 
as it went on growing, and the sons of Priam 
died about me and the folk starved, and my 
husband, Hector, was slain with torment, all 
the voices gathered again together and seemed 
as one voice, that cried to my heart so that it 
understood. 

What did it say, mother ? 

It spoke in a language that you know not, 
my son. 

Did it speak Phrygian ? 

It spoke the language of old, old men, and 
those whose gods have deserted them. 

[Orestes moves forward as though to 
speak, but checks himself. 

But you could tell me what it said. 



ANDROMACHE 



37 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



MOLOSSUS 
ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



[Looking at him, and not answering.] Why 
did you ever wish to kill that herd-boy ? 

We had taken their cattle before. They 
always fight us. 

W T ould it not be better that they should live 
at peace with you ? 

Why should I fear their blood-feud ? I 
would sooner be slain than ask favours of 
them. My father would avenge me well ! 

And who will be the happier ? Listen. 
Can you hear that little beating sound — down 
seaward, away from the sun ? 

It is the water lapping against the rocks. 

There is a sound like that in the language 
I told you of. Old, old men, and those whose 
gods have deserted them, hear it in their 
hearts — the sound of all the blood that men 
have spilt and the tears they have shed, lapping 
against great rocks, in shadow, away from the 
sun. 

But, mother, no warrior hears any sound 
like that. 

Hector learnt to hear it before he died. 



38 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 

ORESTES 

ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



ORESTES 
MOLOSSUS 



ANDROMACHE 
MOLOSSUS 



[Coming forward.'] Before he died ! Is that 
its meaning ? 

The stranger ! [Turning. 

Does it mean death, that sound ? 

Nay, methinks a man hears it when he has 
suffered enough, if he has the right ear to hear 
it. 

But it is then that death should come, when 
a man has suffered enough. 

Nay, death should not come for suffering. 
Death should come when there is no hope left 
for any one thing in the world. 

\_Broodingly.~] One thing ! 

But, Mother, they called Hector " Slayer of 
Men." I want first to slay many, many men, 
and many wild beasts, and burn a town, that 
people may fear me, and call me " Slayer of 
Men." And after that — after that, I will be 
merciful, and slay only those I hate. 

Shall you hate men still ? 

If they wrong me ! [Andromache smiles.] 
Shall I not hate them that wrong me ? Do 
you not yourself ? 



ANDROMACHE 



39 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



MOLOSSUS 



ANDROMACHE 
MOLOSSUS 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



MOLOSSUS 



Light of my age, if I hated, how should I 
live ? There are three living souls that I love 
— you and your father and old Alcimus. And 
if I hated, whom should I hate more bitterly ? 

I know my father was your enemy once. 
But what did old Alcimus? 

He was one of the three who slew my little 
child. 

Astyanax ? [She nods."] I wish Astyanax 
were alive, mother. I would take him hunt- 
ing. — He would have no share, would he, in 
my heritage ? 

1 know nothing of that. 

And did you never hate them — not at the 
time ? 

[Looking at Attn, then passing her hand across 

her face.] Oh yes, I hated them ! 

But not me ! I never did much harm to 
you. 

Some day perhaps you will hurt me worse 
than any of them; but I shall not hate you. 

[After a pause, handling the objects in the 
bo7ul.] Well, I give you my oath this time, 
Mother ; but I will not atone for my next slay- 



4o 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIMEDON 



ANDROMACHE 

MOLOSSUS 

ALCIMEDON 



ALCIMEDON 



ALCIMEDON 



Enter Alcimedon and Attendants. 
The bull is finished, and a fine beast he was. 
[Seeing the bowl.'] What is this ? 

[Shamefaced.'] Nothing. Some pieces of 
mother's old stores. 

The price for the blood of the herd-boy. 

She made me vow it ! 

The atonement? That is right. I feared 
that Pyrrhus would be too proud to pay it. 

You need not think that / wanted him to 
pay it ! 

H'm ! That was how /talked once, before 
I knew what a blood-feud was. And now I 
would pay a dead man's weight in silver to be 
clear of one. Of course, with a stranger it is 
different, or a man who has no kin. [Exam- 
ining the stores?^ No need to pay too much, 
though. It was a little boy, they tell me, and 
poorly clad. 

[Almost crying?^ He was a big boy ! — I hate 
the Napaeans, and I will slay more of them ! 

There are the oxen as well. We have killed 
two; but sorry beasts, both, sorry beasts. 
Any two calves will more than make up for 
them. 



ANDROMACHE 



4i 



MOLOSSUS 


But I hate them ! 


ALCIMEDON 


Hate them your fill ; but make up the feud : 
we must not have Pyrrhus left childless. 


MOLOSSUS 


What is it to me if Pyrrhus is childess ? He 
can avenge his children. 


ALCIMEDON 


Peace is better. 


MOLOSSUS 


[ Contemptuously. ] Peace ! 


ORESTES 


And what is the road to peace ? The hate 
must eat itself out, till it stays for weariness. 


ALCIMEDON 


A long road, stranger, too long and too 
rough to the feet. We want peace now ! 


ORESTES 


How can you get peace now, when the 
blood is still wet ? He may give all his silver 
and his kine, but he will hate the men whose 
blood he has drunk ; and though they swear 
by all the gods of their valley, they will hate 
him. And hate will out, in time, one way or 
another. 


MOLOSSUS 


If ever they swerve a hair's breadth from 
their oaths 


ALCIMEDON 


And is there to be no peace at all ? 


ORESTES 


Peace for this one — \touching Molossus] — 
when Pyrrhus is childless, or when 



42 



ANDROMACHE 



ALCIMEDON 
ORESTES 

ANDROMACHE 

ORESTES 

ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



Your words on your own head ! 

when the last of the Napaeans has 

gone from the earth. 

Nay ; no peace then. 

Not for the dead ? 

Do not men see the dead roaming the 
world, and hear them call for blood ? 

[Excitedly.'] How know you, woman, that the 
Dead call for blood ? [Gloomily again.] When 
the whole of a race is gone there may perhaps 
be peace. 

But the whole of a race is never gone. 
Even from Troy there are men escaped who 
may make cities and seek for vengeance again. 
And if you blot out all the Napaeans, there 
are those beyond the Napaeans who will hate 
you for that very thing. Make peace, swiftly, 
before you die, my son, lest there be no peace 
for ever and ever. 

Enter Hermione, with Priest of Thetis and 
Attendants ; she is richly dressed, and her 
eyes bright and anxious. She passes up to 
the two high seats, and takes one. She talks 
with her Maids, and Alcimedon goes over 
to her. 



ANDROMACHE 



43 



ORESTES 



IIERMIONE 



HERMIONE 



I HERMIONE 



[Detaching another pendant from his chain.'] 
Woman, you can see men's hearts, and you 
talk not as these talk. Behold, there is no 
peace, for peace is nothing ; there is either 
Love or Hate. [Throwing pendant into the 
bowl.] If gold can buy love where hate is, 
put that to the blood-gift ! 

[To Orestes, across the hall.] Sir Stranger, 
this Priest tells me you are skilled as a bard. 

I have little skill in music, but I have jour- 
neyed much. 

You can tell us strange tales of your 
voyages ? 

Not of my own. But I was telling this boy 
a tale even now. 

Nay, no boys' tales ! Andromache, take 
your son and help with the ox flesh. [To 
Orestes.] And sit not so far off, among the 
slaves' seats. Tell us some man's story. 

[Approaching, but bringing Molossus with 
him, while Andromache goes out.] Nay, I will 
keep the boy. It is a boy's tale, this, and of 

little meaning. But seeing I have begun 

[To Molossus.] Have you heard of a man 
that once had a great feud — Orestes, Aga- 
memnon's son ? 



44 



ANDROMACHE 



MOLOSSUS 


Who slew his mother, and was driven by 


PRIEST 


Nay, name them not, child, name not those 




Holy Ones ! 


ALCIMEDON 


We love not his name in this house, stranger. 




Have you no other tale ? 


HERMIONE 


[ Controlling her excitement^ Nay, what hurt 




is his name ? It is only a tale. 


ORESTES 


He took on him a great feud, greater than 




he knew. For his father called from the dead 




for vengeance on the woman who had mur- 




dered him. And the gods called, too, and put 




voices always about him calling for blood. 




And then they betrayed him ! 


MOLOSSUS 


Did his father betray him, too ? 


ORESTES 


Nay, it may be that the voice was not his 




father's, after all. But the gods 


PRIEST 


See that your tongue offend not, stranger ! 


ORESTES 


So be it. Well, in the end he recked not of 




the gods. He cared not how sore they hated 




him, and cared not if he lived or died. 


MOLOSSUS 


And what did he do ? 



ANDROMACHE 



45 



> HERMIONE 
ORESTES 






HERMIONE 

ORESTES 

HERMIONE 

ORESTES 

MOLOSSUS 



This is the last story I heard of him, from a 
Cretan man who had been in the Northern 
lands. 

Had he gone so far away ? 

To the far North where the people are 
barbarians. For he vowed that he would be 
like Paris, and win the most beautiful of all 
women for his wife ; for, you must know, the 
gods had marred all the world for him, and 
made it all as ashes in his mouth, except 
beauty. For beauty is immortal, like them- 
selves ; and they cannot hurt it. So he sought 
and questioned where that woman might be ; 
and travellers said she was queen of a land 
among the Northmen. 

[Half divining his meaning.'] Had he seen 
her himself ? 

Ay, long ago, they said. 

And did he too deem her so fair ? 

[Looking full at her.] More beautiful than 
the flowers and the sunlight, so that in dreams 
her eyes haunted him. 

Well, and what did he do ? 

He took his ship, with a hundred men well 
armed, and hid them in a bay of that country. 



46 



AND ROM AC II E 



And he went up alone to the king's castle and 
he woman. For be was not sure if she 
was really so beautiful, and wanted to see her 
again very close. So he stayed in the king's 
house and made a plot to bear her away. 

Rut what happened ? 

I said it was but a boy's story. The Cretan 
knew not what had happened. Some said he 
won the queen to his ship, and fled away, 
wandering: and id she told the king 

<>f his plotting, and they slew him there in the 
banquet hall. [ A slight pause. ] So perchance 
Orestes has found his peace ; or, per- 
chance he is still an outcast man, with a new 
feud following him. 

But 1 wish I knew. 

'I is a foolish story, without an ending. 

HERMION i [ Breaking out from her suspense ; recklessly. ] 

And a poor fool, your Orestes, whatever befell ! 

flow so ? What if he won the woman ? 

HKRMIONE He only fled on the seas with her, an exiled 

man, with no comfort. Could he not get him 

a kingdom ? 

ORBS1 Belike he cared not for a little kingdom, 

i being once robbed of his own great kingdom. 



A N ! I 



47 



If | bigfa seat ii empty, shall not a i 

good soldi- 

ne, of M\ 

good 

The- Northmen may l> 

him. 

A band] 

it. 

The bad her own fri 

;ier. 

.'lant 

:n | 

I [c did :. 4 le k fur t r bci 

tight her ! ; beauty spoke like a 

god to him : 



ANDROMACHE 





[A moments pause. A shout of several 




voices heard in the Court. 


ALCIMEDON 


What is that shouting ? 




[Moves towards door, with Molossus ; the 




Priest follows. 


HERMIONE 


I heard the King's voice in it. [To her 




Maids.] Go, both of you. See what has 




happened. [They also go towards the door, 




leaving Hermione and Orestes alone. An 




instant of silence ; the?i she makes a quick move- 




ment to him.] Oh, speak ! 


ORESTES 


Either I will take you this night or I will be 




slain here in the hall ! 


HERMIONE 


Oh, take me, take me ! I am half dead 




with wearying ! 


ORESTES 


You shall weary no more. Go. forth alone 




at midnight to the altar of Thetis 


HERMIONE 


The altar of Thetis — by night! 




[She shows fear. 


ORESTES 


What do you fear? [Hermione shudders, 




but does not answer^] You dare not? Then, 




let it end the other way ! 


HERMIONE 


Dare you slay him ? 


ORESTES 


That is no great thing ! 



ANDROMACHE 



49 



HERMIONE 


And the witch, and the witch-child ? 




[ With frightened ferocity. 


ORESTES 


Slay fieri 


HERMIONE 


You will not? You will not? Oh, then, I 




dare not go to you ! 




[Orestes iooks at her with surprise and 




some repulsion ; the women and Alci- 




mus return, followed by Pyrrhus and 




MOLOSSUS, with some armour: after 




them Andromache and some retainers. 


MAID 


A gift for Molossus ! The King has given 




him a helmet and shield and spear! 


MOLOSSUS 


And greaves, too, with bronze rims ! 


PYRRHUS 


Not yet, my boy ! \4-s Molossus would fit 




a greave on.] Bad luck before a banquet. 


ALCIMUS 


Wait till the morning, my lad ! 


PYRRHUS 


[ With sudden displeasure, seeing the blood- 




gifts.] What mean all these carpets, and the 




bowl yonder ? 


ANDROMACHE 


They are gifts for the atonement. 


PYRRHUS 


Atonement — to those dogs! 


ANDROMACHE 


My King, it was the boon you granted me. 


PYRRHUS 


[Turning towards Molossus.] The boy 




never consented ! 



So 



ANDROMACHE 



HERMIONE 

FIRST MAID 
SECOND MAID 
ALCIMUS 
FIRST MAID 



PYRRHUS 



ANDROMACHE 



I — verily I liked it not — but I gave my 
word. Mother made me. 

You have just slain a man, and a woman 
can frighten you to promising your own dis- 
honour ? 

She did not frighten me ; she — I know not 
how she did it ! 

[ With a laugh.~\ Others can guess well 
enough how she did it ! 

[Muttering.'] Sorceress ! 

[The same.] Phrygian witch ! 

Hold your peace, little prating foxes ! 

Oh, we all know she has witched old Alcim- 
edon, long ago. 

[Half crying, as Pyrrhus stands gloomily 
silent^] I would not make atonement to them, 
Father, for all the world ! 

She has your word now, little fool; and 
mine likewise. — By the gods, woman, you 
have got your will, and shamed me in the eyes 
of all men. 

Master, your honour is more to me than 
mine own. This thing shames you not ; even 
Alcimedon deemed it wise and honourable. 



ANDROMACHE 



5 1 



HERMIONE 



ANDROMACHE 



FIRST MAID 
HERMIONE 



ANDROMACHE 
PYRRHUS 



HERMIONE 
PRIEST 



The boy is very young ; if he were a man, 
belike 

Is Alcimedon the judge of his lord's hon- 
our? 

But how should I ever seek to hurt your 
honour ? Why should I wish it ? 

[As Pyrrhus goes silently back to the throne,'] 
A barbarian woman never forgets a hurt. 

'Tis the spite of a conquered Phrygian. 

Let her be, King ! She is thinking ever of 
her Hector, and Astyanax whom you slew ! 

My lord 

Peace, peace ! She knows well enough that 
Hector is dead — and beyond the seas too. 
Though I were shamed to the dirt in mine 
own hall, Hector would not hear of it ! 

Are you sure ? 

Hector himself is buried beyond the seas, 
but his ghost may have followed your ships to 
Phthia. [Coming up to the throne?^ Yea, son 
of Achilles, though you like not my counsel, 
there be witches in Phrygia that can wake the 
dead, and tell them of shame come to their 
enemies, or of 



5 2 



ANDROMACH E 



A LCI. MI'S 









There be none such in Phthia, old man 1 
And if the dead should wake, your prating 
would soon set them to sleep again. 

. chter, in which PvRRHUS slightly joins. 

' r is well said, Alcimedon ! These women 
and priest 

Nay, but I will speak ! 

../ whom </ j 
gathers, iMACHI 

am 

Old man, you have 
>ecn Helen. Was she more beautiful than 

your Que 

[ Looking toward* H ERM 10 N I , then brighten - 

ing.] Nay, this is a woman like another; 

Helen ke, deathless and ageless 
for 61 

[To himself ?\ Foi Helen I could have done- 
it .'.. . Alcimedon, did yonder woman ever 
do Helen any great wrong, anything meet for 
vengeance ? 

Andromache? Why. 'twas Helen did her 
all the wrong ! 

Kven so ; and therefore she must have hated 
her. Did she never seek, think you, to have 
Helen slain ? 






53 



I trow not : Why. she gave her home and 

[Br 

[Shaking off the Pi 

\ the hal 

I I 

I [e 

'i the uui 

[ Gl 

! ,un 
hut ,i • :. bat m\ 



54 



AND ROM AC" 11 E 






Take him the wine. 

[ They bring wine and a . 

There are two songs running in my 

this hour past: and I know not fully even yet 
which of the two is better. 

Let it be something joyful, meet for a I 
day. 

1 fancied before that one of my 9 
\vi\ joyful ; but now methinks there is n 
at all in either. 

| After looking at him questunungly for a 

moment.'] Then give US a _;<oil straight battle- 

. with no cowards in it. ami do slaying b\ 
stealth, 

[ Excitedly. | That it shall be! No cowards, 

a { lean, hard I 
Ay. And it IS the easier too 1 

U will call first upon the godj stranger. 

Assuredly ; and the god can choose the end 
of the lay. | ( 'hanting. 

hope, whom no man worshippeth, 
rl of his fears, and burthen of his breath, 
Oueller of hate and love, hear. () Most Strong, 
Wrathful uiul Unrighteous, hear, O Death!" 



Ml N-AT-ARMS 



Good words ! Good words ! 



CHE 






rt the oincn I 

itran- 

i over wilh evi! 



<se anoth* 

likr • :h. 






idow of all thin. 

hipwrcck like the M, 

it a name? 

'. in 
th< 

I Pbthil winre It th 

death 1 



56 



AN D ROM ACHE 



We have our own bard, who can sing to our 
liking ; and his lays will tell whether we fear 
death. 

Your own bard will sing your own valour, 
belike? That I can ill do; for I have heard 
but little of the deeds of Pyrrhus. 

The name of Troy has been heard, per- 
chance, even in Acarnania ? 

But the praise of your ancestors I could 
make into something — something gayer, yOU 
slid 5 Was .K.u ws the first of your boUfl 

is, son of Zeus. 

[Tumnging the- lyre carelessly (in,/ impro- 
vising. 

- ind foebla folk are we ! 

And Zenfl hi> father helped him iii his need. 
And Petopt, I.ord of Hellas, loved him well!" 

ALCIM1 [Gti4mbling.'\ /Eacus was no vassal of 

Pelops ! 

ii - " The son is weaker, weaker than the sire I 

And Peleus he begat, a goodly king; 
Albeit he stabbed his brother on the sand, 
And wandered from his house, and begged, and lied. 
And vowed a goddess held him to her breast." 



M ACB E 






[Murmurs m the hall. < 
iks. 

[ U> 

him fresh 
whiskers] A A ? 

[/n : 

I 

thr 

• foot. 

And. though r.< - d», 

i though he kepi hi* tent whf. 

his lotn» one ton true '' 

•lood I" 

\\ i ID ? 

.. | 

iher, 

[Ife snatches up the 



5« 



A NDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMA4 111 

y aid 

ANDROM M Hi 

III KV! 



HERW 



and growl. Hermione starts u/>, clasp- 
ing her head with both hands, and staring 
in terror before her. Orestes stays 

quietly seated. 

[Hushing be/ore PvRRHUS.] Your oath. C) 
King 1 Your pledged band : lie is our g 

[Checking himself suddenly , then turning upon 
her.] \\ ij ? You brought him here 

— you gave the barb to his mocking! [To 
the men.] Back, men! [To ANDROMACHE.] 
Who taught him to revile my hou- 

I have told him nothing. 

He has been talking hours and hours with 
the Lady Andromache 

I know him not. I think lie is mad. 

Bewitched, pen hancel 

[Murmurs of assent and dissent. 

Peace, hounds I | Sir Guest, 

this woman has saved you. else, oath or no 
oath, had I slain you where you stand! 

[Starting from her stupefaction.] What is 
that in the bowl ? 



What bowl? 



AND R O M A ( 



59 


















l)Owl of your blood-.. 

[Pointing to it. 

then turns 
gave you this gold ? 

uld be slain. 

■ 

I the 

■ 

bin u 

ih.it 
r in his g 

. 

judgment 



6o 



AN I) ROM ACHE 



ANDROMAI UK 



ALCIMKI.oN 






ANDROMACHE 



Al I IV. 



Judge me yourself, O Pyrrhus, son of 
Achilles ! even now, in your anger ; and I fear 
not. ( )h, my King, you who know me, say if 
I have hated you ! 

A witch has no right to speak. Let her be 
bound outside at the gate till she is judged. 

Not speak ? What law is this. Pi 1 

Not a witch ! She will bind the King's 
heart, so that he cannot judge her. 

[After a moment's hesitation.'] By Zeus in 
en, it is the truth! I cannot judge her 
while she stands looking at me. 
woman ! — Nay, touch her not ! — Let her go 

to her own house. 

I go, my King. Yet if you slay me and to- 
morrow wake sorrowful, remember there is no 
cure for that sorrow ! \. m u in . 

Mother, I will come too! 

[Stopping Molossus at the door.] To sanc- 
tuary ! Not to your own house ! Take 
sanctuary, both, at the altar of Thetis, till his 
fur)' is over. t Molossus. 

[ Who during the interruption has mounted 
on the bench, taken the suit of arms from 



ANDROMACHE 



61 





the »x<elf % here leaps 








"The MM 








[CtM 




M A> >'cw women and slew habes. 




Bui Mirl ; 




le; and fled, fled, fled!** 




[Tumult in hall. 




■ '; 




thrust 




him 


. 1 


Will DOtl I 








I the 




tgtmemnoi 


PYKki 








• 


ii: t hi hind him 




//. R. 




he lies : 







62 



AN I) ROM AC HE 



HKKMIONE 



A VOICE FROM 
IH1. WATCH- 
TOWER 

ALCIMEDON 

HKKMIONE 



HERM 



PYRRHU8 
HERMION1 



PYRRHUS 



This is some poor half-mad, wandering 
minstrel-man. I know him not. He is not 
Orestes ! 

There arc no men near the castle. 

Well, strike him down ! 

What profit to break the guest-oath for such 
as he ? He is not OresU 

Now. the Furies that haunt Orestes dog you, 
woman, if you lie ! [( )restes gives I 

If he be mad, it were a great sin to slay him. 
And the god has been strong in him to-day. 

[After gazing at ( ) k BSTES sieadily?^ M ay the 
Furies that haunt Orestes be ever with ine if I 
lie. [Recklessly^ Is that enough? If you 
would have another oath, behold, I will go this 
night to the altar of Thetis 

Hush, Queen, lest the goddess hear! 

[Continuing.'] And there by the altar I will 
swear oaths, and Thetis may work upon me 
what she will 1 

Nay, daughter of Helen, no such wild words ! 
I mistrust you not. — Guest, get you gone in 
peace. 



A N I ' 



63 



IK VI 



[Subdued by mention of the Fur Us.] I go, not 
I ! un no 

\>ur.] 
'. your shield and helm- I 

Id will 

ryvr.] 

Apol' 1 back ! — 

. 
• >nc him fa urt ? 

>sessed ! Stricken r.* 

[Te> I 

sec n 






AND UK 



65 



T }\V THIRD A 4 

. / i in Act I. N 
on the steps of the 

from the 
one after anot ; . r-med men, 

bows and arrows as they 

■ 
■ 

MAN-AT-ARMS 

ORESTES 

MAN YCS. W 

t from thfl 

h u.i\ Will jrc them ? 

1 1 1 ■ .-. 

up. 

hip. 

m w ■ \ i UU Prince, we h.wc nur CM 

not. 



66 



ANDROMACHE 



MAN-AT-AKMS 



ANDROMACHE 






IKS 
ANDROMACHE 



ORESTES 
ANDROMACHE 



Nay, what worth is a dead body, or who 
can hurt it ? 

Hush! What was that? 

[Steals back to his ambush . AndROMACH I 
has made some movement. Oki 
peers towards Castle, U, in darkness , 
then, turning, sees that there is a woman 
at the altar. 

Daughter of I Men. why at the altar ? Whom 
do you feai \ Nil answer. He comes 

nearer and sees MOLOSSU8 lying.'] What docs 

the boy here ? 

It is the Strang tie you to seek me, 

or what more h;is chanced ? 

Is it you ? You ? — Is the boy ash 

We have waited here so long, and have 
heard no word, good or evil. 

But why hide you here ? 

We have taken sanctuary from the wrath of 

the King and Queen, my guest 

Call you me still your ^uest ? 

Nay. you are still my guest till you leave 
the land ; and the King's wrath will perchance 
be cooled to-morrow. 



ANDRO M.\ 



(•7 















Why did you not i 
hall ? 
hurt to you. Speak, thin i \\ill 

hold :: 

that ipeak like this ? Ami 

•ke I not loud enough u 
hall ? stes. 

[A matt J. 



• it. 

fricn 

\d more 

than 

r and 

Priam and 



68 



ANDROMACHE 



ORESTES 


I know the battle, and I know the shame. 




I have seen nought else. 


ANDROMACHE 


The King has had but little sorrow ; he has 




conquered always, and taken glory in his 




manslaying. 


ORESTES 


Belike he will soon taste the other side of 




glory. 


ANDROMACHE 


It may be. Hut none here, save old Acinuis, 




know aught of suffering, l have long prayed 




that some man should COUIC here who had 




suffered from the hurts he had done, and 




learnt to pity men and women. And if the 




King's feet are set East and cannot be turned, 




at least there is my 




Woman, 1 am come to slay the King and 




your 


ANDROMACHE 


llmfy.] Slay them? Hut why? Why? 




To take their kingdom, as others have taken 




mine ! 


ANDROMACHE 


But is all the grief wasted that the gods 




have sent you ? Can you not forget past evils 




and live in peace ? 


ORESTES 


In storm I can forget them. Peace is all 




anguish to me. 


ANDROMACHE 


And what will a kingdom profit you ? 



A \ i » R ( ' 



69 



orestes kingdom. 

■• 

it his plou^ with 

gladness, but m lg*i son. 

la the vol ind 

too. 

tbeti 

>t for plur. 
[1 be ei)< wr 

• m should I ' 

ORESTES 

litt!< 

\NI»KOM \( n 

! _ ods. 



7 o 



AND ROM AC II E 



ORESTES 

ANDROMACHE 

ORESTES 

INDROMACHE 

TES 

ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHK 



ANDRO" 



ORESTES 
ANDROMACHE 



Then what defence have you against me ? 

I need no defence. You and I are friends. 

How. friends! I am charged to slay you 
also. 

You will not slay me. 

How can you know what I myself know not 
yet ? 

You have no peace to see your own heart ; 
but I can see it. 

How have you learnt it? — Woman, they 
may well speak of your sorcer; 

I have no sorceries. \Y • slave-women are 
like dogs who read men's moodfl in their eyes 
and voices, because their moods bring life or 
death to us. 

Then why do you not fear me the more ? 
[Roughly.'] You have never seen my heart ! 

He who has seen beyond the glory of blood- 
shedding may soon see beyond the hardness 
of man's heart. 

[Troubled — roughly.'] I know my own heart ! 

The gods' hearts may be hard, but man's is 
tender ; only very hungry, and sore afraid, and 
wild as a hunted beast on the mountain. 



A N D R 1 



7« 












I KMI. 'SI 



Know you your Oueen's heart \ 

tad ibc tl' 

perchance, that the gi 

ently — bt king the 

hands I: )ld. 

■ k, hooded \i' 

■ 

[To herself.] I I one } — Oh, I 

uiekly out from behind the 

I 

hood. — Y 

.\utiful ! 

II N quirk 

What i^ it ? 
Thai oath I iwore — 






72 



AN D ROM AC II K 



ORESTES 


You have not heard Them ? 


iikrmmm: 


I know not. There seemed shapes at the 




edge of the trees. 


ORESl 


Shapes ! [Looks at her close.'] No : you have 




not seen them. 


III-KM1 


| With hi-n r.] Is the Ugh( of then written 




on men's 1 :a< 




Speak not of them ! — You have neither seen 




nor heard. 


1 ILK Ml 


It is only now. and lure, that I am afraid. 




Take me to the ship now: and when once it is 




over 




When Pynhus is slain ? 


ill- Rlfl 


And the otlur — ! 'dittoing to him] — oh, then 




(hall be safe and at DC 


- 1 ES 


The boy? Why do you fear him ? 


IIKRMI 


[Absently.] The boy? He is the king's BOtt. 


i ES 


But why do you fear him ? 


HERMION1 


It i.s not the boy I fear. 


I'ES 


Who, then ? 


HERMK 


It is the woman. 


ORESTES 


[Repelled?^ And what fear you from her? I 




care not to slay a woman and a child. 



AND II K 



73 



I can never breathe in peace while st, 

thei 

.j.] Wh.u has she done? 

[Sfli 

reo if I know it no 
h runs in my blood and 

.Ming. 

r.iv. I 11, 



■ 

;rt th.it. 

1 .1 radiai* 






74 



ANDROMACHE 



ORESTES 


[Reflecting.] There is a radiance, although 




she is so sad. 


HKRMIONE 


Where got she that radiance ? It is not hers. 




It is the joy and sunlight she has sucked out 




of me ! 


ORESTES 


[Looking at her coldly.] I can see no cloud 




ID your face. 


IIKKMI 


[Passionately.'] No, no, you cannot see. I 




am rotting, shrivelling, dying within ; and only 




she can see how I die 1 




All flesh must decay. Tell me one deed of 




hate she has done, and I will slay her. 


111 KMInNl 


She has made me childless, that her child 




may he k 


1'ES 


[To himself.'] And Helen never faded at all. 


Hl.kMIONE 


Childless, barren — barren of womb and of 




heart! — I had courage and strength to bear 




good sons, till she lapped it from me to feed 




her son. Nay, there is another thing — 


ORESTES 


[Coldly.] What? 


HKRMIONE 


No, no, you do not believe me ! I cannot 




say it. 


ORESTES 


You speak such wild things. 



CHE 








I know not why I im M wild now, and 
anger yoi: 

wild and cruel ; but now, I know not why this 
should come i 


IKS 


Irom- 




i 
the trcti by the 


'■ 


I in 
■art 




Na\ 




^ay 1 


IKS 


wh.it b HI 


■SUCK 


■ 




1 

h.is no Eemi l ki 


m 


What CM I U 11 1 
MB. 


IKS 


It .-.\\h 



76 



ANDROMACHE 



IIKRMIONE 



ANDROMACHE 






MIONE 



ORESTES 
HERMIONE 



ANDRUMAi UK 



INK. MIONE 



She has passed through death ! She has no 
fear, no anger, as the living have. Why does 
she never ask for anything? [Almost beside 
herself with terror^ Faugh ! the smell of death 
clings about all her garments ! Kill her, kill 
her! [Orestes looks at rixJLMIONE with a 
sh lul iter. HSRMIONE, breaking down, continues .] 
( >h, friend, friend, I was not like this in Sparta. 

Queen, I know my heart is with the dead of 
Troy. Why should that anger you? 

[Looking a t HERMIONE.] In very truth there 
is a shadow come over you. You seem to DC 
shrunken, and sc aiee BO wondrous beautiful. 

[/// a weary frightened voice."] Kill her, kill 
her! 

I know not 

You have eyes. Can you not see there is a 
fiend working in me ? 

There is no fiend. Queen, Queen, why are 
you so full of hate ? 

T is your spells have done it ! Before I 
came here I never hated any one. 

[To Andromache.] Know you not any 
cause why she should hate you ? 



A ND II E 






io men h . 
fed that I 

will you ( 

Aw ' ■ . till we < 

II not Id 

DJtbiogl [ To hen elf. 

No i 
but I lu-.ir their win-s on the Wind 



I hoar QOthinj mnot 

be wi 



78 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHK 



HERMIONK 



-TES 
HONE 



HONE 



JIKK.M , 



HERMIONE 



There is no sound at all. 
fied. 



Be not so terri- 



I cannot stay here alone! Oh, I care not 
for the kingdom. 

We are exiles for ever, both ! 

Nay, if you love me 1 can bear anything ; if 

any one will love me. 

I know not if I love or hate you. It 
for your passing beauty I came, beeause your 
beaconed me through the dark of the - .1. 

Oh, take me; that is all the love 1 want ! 

Like those two star.s that men call Helen's 
brethren, immortal, never fading 

Oh, I am fading fast, but, perchance, if the 
Spell were off me 

[//is madness growing upon Aim.] Nay, 
shall never fade. There is a blue sunlit island, 
waterless, desolate — Hear me. daughter of 
Helen, ageless and deathless ! 

I hear. 

Some sunset when you are beautiful like a 
dream I will set you on that bright island, and 
fill my eyes full. And then I will go my ways 









79 





alone, and the fairest of earthly things shall be 




mine for 


HkKMl 


What do you BM 








- 




tht ■;. en. 




< >!.. 




• 




back.] I should 








'! that 1 




• 




' 




with I 




• 




1 >) with mc what 




will. 


IRS 


DM. [Sound agatn.] that? 






PI KKI 


at tl: I ire all 












HI shrink* 



So 



A N D R M A CHE 



andromache [To MoLOSSUS.] Cling fast! [Rushing 

from the a I far towards Pyrrhus.] Hack, my 
king ! Keep back ! 

hkrmione [To Orestes, with a cry.] Now, n«>\v ! 

[Hides her 

MOLOSSUS [ Waking up slowly !\ Is that father coin- 

ing? 

pyrrhus [Entering arid grasping ANDROMACHE.] 

Think yon to die so easily ? You shall 
first and tell all! 

androma* There is an ambush I Keep back ! 

[Pyrrhus iih his sword . 

' her. 

[ Looking up.] More tre a c h e r y ': 

Why is the son of Achilles away from the 
battle ? 

You ? Pirate I Because your men fled so 
East and so fa: rvants have chased 

them twenty furlongs from here. Yield! 

[Loud.] No man shoot nor stir ! [As before.] 
Your Myrmidons may be twenty furlongs from 
here ; my men are in these thickets to right 
and left. What sought you here ? Was it to 
slay Andromache ? 



A N I I 



81 



I >u^ht that when I i need 

more. 

[//e 

I your 

:rh<ym IV 
- first time. 

It N 

[To the rock^ 

■ I 

• >m \» n t- [Close to PYRI 

I 

.uni .I the 

lion : 



82 



AN DROMACH E 



ORESTES 



HERM 
VOICE 



ANDROMACHE 



Hi RMIONE 



ANDROMACHE 



HERMIONE 



They hear you not. Go back ! 

[He grasps his spear for defence ; Pyrrhus 
draws his sword and starts fonvard. 

[As before.] Now ! Now ! 

[From behind the rocks.} Now, men 
Mycena,* ! 

[A shower of arrows strikes Pyrrhus. 

It is a murder, I coward's murder! 

[Pyrrhi to the altar and falls. 

AMD! OMACH1 bends over, tending him. 
Ifo ith i cry % snatches Pvr- 

Riii . who 

disarms him at a bfoio. 

Hold the boy ! Hurt him not! 

[In a stupffed tone.] His blood is running 
down the steps of the altar | 

Where is M . if you leave 

these do^s unpunished 

Nay, curse him not ! Oh, my lord, if you 
have ever loved him, curse him not ! Let 
him be free : he will do all that is well. 

[Faintly.'] Andromache ? . . . Ay, then, so 
be it. . . . It is the same in the end. [Dies. 

[As before.'] His blood is trickling into the 
mark of the footprint of Thetis! [Wildly.] 



ANDROMACHE 



83 












ORSSTES 






:rag him away, or it will 1 upon 

/ n him. I will not toa 

• he. touch him 
not ; he will haunt you. 

I the 
is doing witch work 

in the £<•• 

but I 

will OB 

If I 
coul.i 

I 

O < I \ • 

[71» im. 

if he doei unit them 

that s\ w him. 

11 He 

naSQOlj - .:id me. [A'iif>t,//\.\ Oh, 



8 4 



ANDROMACHE 



HKRV 



MAI HI 



HKRMIONE 



ANDROMACHE 



in (iod's name, it is too much! The sound 
of Their wings is all about me, and if I dared 
look, I know I should sec Their faces. It is 
more than one woman can bear. If he wakes 
I shall go mad ! 

It is done now. We will fly in the ship 
quickly ; he will never follow us over the seas. 

[As before.} She will show him the way ! 
Oh, she will have do pity I I have sought so 
long to slay her. She would not spai 
now for all the treasures of Egypt. 1 knew 

well 1 should have no peace till 1 saw her 

dead. — Oh, woman, woman ! bend not over 
him ; whisper to him DO more '. 

I will whisper no more ; I will cry aloud — 
in dead ears, as I have cried all my life! 

[To Pvkrhus.] thou who nearest me not, 

who hast never heard me. 1 call again to thee, 
let there at last be peace I If thou hast found 
thy sleep, oh, cling to it 1 Never wake nor 
stir to follow these who murdered thee ! 



What does she mean ? It is all magic, 
means that he is to follow us! 



She 



The living have never heard me, and the 
dead cannot hear; but broken and dying men 
know the words that I speak. Remember the 



ANI> CHE 



85 





















one moment before utter death, when thine 
opened to see and th:; 

waste tore ! 

i him rema 

id follow ; 
Od in tin 

\tht till 

[With a shr: 

■ • 
tlin^ him : 



86 



ANDROMACHE 



[She looks up and sees the sword ; sud- 
denly clutches it and moves towards 

Andkoma 

ANDROMACHE And afterward go and seek Hector, and he 

will tell thee more, for he was wiser and 
r than other men. And some day this 
woman, too, will be broken and dying ; and 
then she will see what thou and I have seen, 
and will knuw what mercy is. [HkrM 
stabs her.] Ah I 

[AND falls over the body of 

PYRRHUS. Ol land 

grasps 1 1 

[To the men holding M >LOSSUS.] Hold this 

wild 1' I the boy free. 

[Orbs J together 

r the body n. The 

men-at-arms seize II 1 km ! 

MOLOSSUS Mother, 5p .ik : — Is she dead? 

i'ES but there is death in her face* 

iioi i Mother, mother, ape 

ies [Sta> | We know what she would 

say Young King of Phthia, I never sought 

to slay your father ; and for this woman, I 
would give all my wealth to have her alive 



A KDRO M A I 



87 



make atonement : take 
all my gold — [takes off his < 

n'fent] 

e in the hilt th 

d my 

[Throws down the d 
\ In a tifUggk 

I 

men brin. 

■ 
breast or throat m.: 

■ no with I 

I The men miK'e off with her. 

ng.] I will not 

[ The men drag /:.■ 

Ti 

a 011 Id 



88 



ANDROMACHE 



ANDROMACHE 



have more, here is my sword ; and here is my 
shield, and my helmet. [Jfe lays the arms one 
by one at MoLOSSUS* feet.] — My men are all 
gone. The rest is for you to take. 

[Looking at ANDROMACHE.] I will take no 
more. I will have peace. 

[Kneels down % bending over the body. 

Peace let it be ! — 

[ Half raising herself. ] 1 1 cctor 1 Hector ! 



TH1 KND 



; THIS 

\ 1 1 1 




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II 1 1 1 iiiiii 111 ii 



II inn in hi 

014 709 318 4 



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